About This Website

 

This website is dedicated to all the past and present musicians and artists who at one time or another called Batavia, New York and the surrounding area their home.  It is a repository of photos, audio and video clips, newspaper clippings, ads, and miscellaneous memorabilia.  There was an active Message Board where people could leave a message, ask a question, find a long lost friend, or just say hello.  With the popularity of Facebook, the Message Board has been deactivated.  All messages that were previous posted are still available in the Message Board Archives.  The most recent major addition has been the Ramble Jukebox.  There are about 180 songs performed by hometown bands from the 60s to the present.  Please take some time to explore all the pages as content is added to many of the pages as time and available content allow.   Please send any submissions, comments or corrections to the website's webmaster at webmaster@ramblemusic.com.

 

About The Ramble Music & Arts Fest

 

The Ramble Music & Arts Fest is an annual reunion of past and present musicians and artists who at one time or another called Batavia, New York and the surrounding areas their home.

 

In the Fall of 2005, a few friends were talking by email about how many musicians that use to live in the area were in town that past summer, but unfortunately, many were during different weeks.  It was decided to pick one week the next year and let all the out-of-towners know well in advance, so if they wanted, they could schedule their visits during that same week. The Saturday closest to the 4th of July seemed like a logical choice.  Then we figured as long as we're all in town, let's get together and play some music like the good ol' days.  Thus was born Ramble Music & Arts Fest 2006.

 

Ramble 2006 consisted of about 30 performers and was a loose assembly of musicians who mixed and matched their talents for a great day of music in the sun.

 

Ramble 2007 consisted of 15 current and reunited bands including: Buffalo Road Show, Ghost Riders, Dizzy, Red Hot Trio, Trailer Jam, Prospect, Cheer Daddies, OSHA, Sierra, Westside Blues Band, Trolls, Craig Snyder Fusion Group, Red Letters, Recall, Orleans County Connection, and a Ramble Finale where many individual musicians and vocalists joined members of Buffalo Road Show, Ghost Riders and Sierra for a song or two.  Additional venues in the days and nights before and after the main Ramble event made for a full week of music, camaraderie, and friendship.

 

Ramble 2008 grew significantly.  Two stages were needed for the 23 bands that performed including:  Ghost Riders, Red Creek, Dizzy, Trailer Jam, Kay and the Maytags, Red Hot Trio, Sierra, Clayton's Korn Tribute, Julius, Cheer Daddies, Prospect, OSHA, Westside Blues Band, Penny Whiskey, Prairie Reign, Trolls, Red Letters, Tres Cool, Rock-A-Bullies, Warren Sky and Friends, Orleans County Collectives, B-Side Drive, Craig Snyder Fusion Group, and as always, a closing Ramble Finale.  Again, the days and nights before and after the main Ramble event were filled with music and made for a full week of music, camaraderie, and friendship.

 

Ramble 2009 will forever be know as "the Ramble that almost got rained out".  A last minute change of venue to T.F. Brown's saved the day.  Performers included Alligator Sushi, Dick Canty, Double Image, GCMHA, Ghost Riders, HoKoMo, Jim Catino & Friends, Julius, Lake Birds, Misty Mountain Revue, Old Hippie Reunion, Ps-100, Red Creek, Red Hot Trio, Red Letters, Steve Kruppner, Tim LaPorte & Friends, Trolls, Uncle Rog, Warren Skye & Friends. 

 

Ramble 2010 was the largest gathering yet and included Acoustically Inclined, Anthony DelPlato, Classic Revival Band & Friends, Dick Canty, Dirty Sneekers, Dob Artists, Double Image, Fraterrigo Family Band, Fred Stone Jazz Fusion, Gridder Houseknecht, Just Got Lucky, Ken Riber & Cold Steel, Misty Mountain Review, Muggs, Old Hippie Reunion, OSHA, Penny Whiskey, Phoenix, Red Creek, Red Hot Trio w/Clayton Pitcher, Sebastian Erakare, Sierra, Social Group, Steve Kruppner, The Ghost Riders, Tom Stamp, Trolls, Uncle Rog, and Warren Skye & Friends.  Many of the bands' names may not be familiar as they are made up just for the event, but consist of familiar faces with long histories in the Batavia music scene. And the tradition continued - the days and nights before and after the main Ramble event were filled with music and made for a full week of music, camaraderie, and friendship.

 

Bring a lawn chair to sit, a toe to tap, hands to clap, feet to dance, and a smiling face to enjoy a day of peace, music, and art with friends past, present and future.

 

Please contact Bill McDonald at billmac@rochester.rr.com for more information

Jackson Square

Home base for the Ramble Music and Arts Fest is always Jackson Square located in the heart of downtown Batavia, New York.  It is a large area in back of the buildings that line the south side of Main Street between Jackson and Center Streets.  Entry is via the alleyways on Jackson and Center Streets.  Food and beverage is always available at the many nearby downtown establishments.  Other nearby stages have included the parking lot across from O'Lacy's Irish Pub, a small area on Center Street, and under a huge tent in T.F. Brown's parking lot.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Webmaster - Michael Murray - webmaster@ramblemusic.com

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